Part 2. Institutional Provisions

• Pages: 16-17

Contenidos

• Article 14. The joint institutions
• Article 15. The Council of Ministers
• Article 16. The Committee of Ambassadors
• Article 17. The Joint Parliamentary Assembly

Page 16

Article 14 The joint institutions

The institutions of this Agreement are the Council of Ministers, the Committee of Ambassadors and the Joint Parliamentary Assembly.

Article 15 The Council of Ministers

1. The Council of Ministers shall comprise, on the one hand, the members of the Council of the European Union and members of the Commission of the European Communities and, on the other, a member of the government of each ACP State.

   The office of the President of the Council of Ministers shall be held alternately by a member of the Council of the European Union and a member of the government of an ACP State.

   The Council shall meet as a rule once a year on the initiative of the President and whenever it seems necessary, in a form and a geographical composition appropriate to the issues to be addressed.

2. The functions of the Council of Ministers shall be to:

   1. conduct the political dialogue;

   2. adopt the policy guidelines and take the decisions necessary for the implementation of the provisions of this Agreement, in particular as regards development strategies in the specific areas provided for by this Agreement or any other area that should prove relevant, and as regards procedures;

   3. examine and resolve any issue liable to impede the effective and efficient implementation of this Agreement or present an obstacle to achieving its objectives;

   4. ensure the smooth functioning of the consultation mechanisms.

3. The Council of Ministers shall take its decisions by common agreement of the Parties. The proceedings of the Council of Ministers shall be valid only if half the members of the Council of the European Union, one member of the Commission and two thirds of the members representing the governments of the ACP States are present. Any member of the Council of Ministers unable to attend may be represented. The representative shall exercise all the rights of that member.

   It may take decisions that are binding on the Parties and frame resolutions, recommendations and opinions. It shall examine and take into consideration resolutions and recommendations adopted by the Joint Parliamentary Assembly.

   The Council of Ministers shall conduct an ongoing dialogue with the representatives of the social and economic partners and other actors of civil society in the ACP and the EU. To that end, consultations may be held alongside its meetings.

4. The Council of Ministers may delegate powers to the Committee of Ambassadors.

5. The Council of Ministers shall adopt its rules of procedure within six months of the entry into force of this Agreement.

Article 16 The Committee of Ambassadors

1. The Committee of Ambassadors shall comprise, on the one hand, the permanent representative of each Member State to the European Union and a representative of the Commission and, on the other, the head of mission of each ACP State to the European Union.

   The office of Chairman of the Committee of Ambassadors shall be held alternately by a Permanent Representative of a Member State designated by thePage 17 Community, and a head of mission representing an ACP State, designated by the ACP States.

2. The Committee shall assist the Council of Ministers in the fulfilment of its tasks and carry out any mandate entrusted to it by the Council. In this context, it shall monitor implementation of this Agreement and progress towards achieving the objectives set therein.

   The Committee of Ambassadors shall meet regularly, in particular to prepare the Council sessions and whenever it proves necessary.

3. The Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure within six months of the entry into force of this Agreement.

Article 17 The Joint Parliamentary Assembly

1. The Joint Parliamentary Assembly shall be composed of equal numbers of EU and ACP representatives. The members of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly shall be, on the one hand, members of the European Parliament and, on the other, members of parliament or, failing this, representatives designated by the parliament of each ACP State. In the absence of a parliament, the attendance of a representative from the ACP State concerned shall be subject to the prior approval of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly.

2. The role of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly, as a consultative body, shall be to:

   - promote democratic processes through dialogue and consultation;

   - facilitate greater understanding between the peoples of the European Union and those of the ACP States and raise public awareness of development issues;

   - discuss issues pertaining to development and the ACP-EU Partnership;

   - adopt resolutions and make recommendations to the Council of Ministers with a view to achieving the objectives of this Agreement.

3. The Joint Parliamentary Assembly shall meet twice a year in plenary session, alternately in the European Union and in an ACP State. With a view to strengthening regional integration and fostering cooperation between national parliaments, meetings between EU and ACP members of parliament may be arranged at regional or subregional level.

   The Joint Parliamentary Assembly shall organise regular contacts with representatives of the ACP EU economic and social partners and the other actors of civil society in order to obtain their views on the attainment of the objectives of this Agreement.

4. The Joint Parliamentary Assembly shall adopt its rules of procedure within six months of the entry into force of this Agreement.